Recreational Music Making

By Brenda Dillon

Learning to play the piano in an RMM class is fun, stress-free, flexible, and social…Adults learn that persistence is more important than age when learning to play the piano and that the experience is a journey rather than a race. As Quincy Jones says…

What is recreational music making (RMM)? If an activity is considered recreational, select the words that best describe it:

Tedious or fun

Stressful or stress-free

Rigid or flexible

Lonely or social

Learning to play the piano in an RMM class is fun, stress-free, flexible, and social. RMM classes are for all ages, but adults particularly enjoy learning in this environment. Countless adults have yearned to play the piano for years (or regretted quitting lessons as a child). RMM is considered a “dream-fulfillment” opportunity.

Even though RMM classes are fun and stress-free, students do learn how to read music, basic music fundamentals, and also learn to play lead sheets with melody and chords. As they continue to advance, they learn analysis skills, how to recognize and play various accompanying styles, and other musicianship skills including sight-reading, improvising, and playing by ear. They also learn to play with orchestrated accompaniments that make the simplest of solos sound amazing. Duets are a favorite of RMM students as well as playing ensembles.

Adults learn that persistence is more important than age when learning to play the piano and that the experience is a journey rather than a race. As Quincy Jones says, “When you’re over the hill, that’s when you pick up speed.”